Zongyuan Rao was from Jiangling, Hubei. He was diligent and filial from a young age, earning a good reputation. He served as the head clerk in Jiangling during the Liang Dynasty and was later promoted to be a military officer in the Zhengnan Prefecture and then in the Foreign Military Unit. When Sima Wang Sengbian started setting up his court, Rao and Liu Shizhi from Pei County were appointed as chief clerks. After Emperor Gaozu ascended to the throne, Rao was appointed as the county magistrate of Jinling. He later went to the capital to serve as an official in the Ministry of Personnel. After returning from a diplomatic mission to Qi, he became the Chief Justice. He was then promoted to the Minister of Works, concurrently serving as the Chief Supervisor and the Attendant to the Imperial Family in his home county. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Minister of Justice, with the title of Regular Attendant to the Imperial Family, and also served as the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Personnel. During Emperor Taizong's early reign, Rao was considered a competent official by all levels of the court.
Sima Shen, known as Zizhen, was from Wen County, Henan. He was ambitious and principled from a young age, excelling in the study of the "Spring and Autumn Annals." During the Liang Dynasty, he served as an official in the Palace Secretariat. When Chen Baxian led a rebellion, Shen followed him and rose through the ranks to become the Supervisor of the Crown Prince's Affairs. After Emperor Wen of Chen ascended, Shen was appointed as the Crown Prince's Tutor. He later served as an attendant and the Minister of Personnel. When Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication, Shen was appointed as the Director of the Palace Secretariat. He was later promoted to the Minister of Rites. He then became the Crown Prince's Tutor, concurrently serving as the Minister of Personnel. He died while serving in office.
Mao Xi, styled Shirong, was from Wuxing. He was talented and keen on learning from a young age. During the Liang dynasty, he served as a secretary. He joined Chen Baxian's rebellion and worked his way up to become an official serving the Crown Prince. When Emperor Chen Xuan ascended the throne, Mao Xi was appointed as an attendant and Minister of Personnel Affairs. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, Mao Xi was appointed Director of the Secretariat. He was later promoted to Minister of Rites and appointed as a General of the Household. He eventually became the Crown Prince's teacher before passing away in office.
Cai Zheng, styled Daoming, was also from Wuxing. He was talented and keen on learning from a young age. During the Chen dynasty, he rose through the ranks to become a junior official of the Crown Prince. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Secretariat. He was later promoted to Crown Prince's attendant while continuing to serve as Deputy Director of the Secretariat. He later became a Compiler and eventually became the Crown Prince's Chief Clerk.
Yuan Rao became Chief Censor, responsible for overseeing the Five Rites. At that time, the Inspector of Hezhou, Chen Li, was a corrupt official known for his misdeeds. He sent people to collect fish by the river by force and extorted grain from six counties, making life miserable for the people.
Yuan Rao accused Chen Li, stating, "I have heard that the establishment of official positions is meant to alleviate the suffering of the people, and should fundamentally rest on integrity and honesty; lifting the veil to understand the people's sentiments is based on kindness and generosity. If officials are corrupt, endlessly levying taxes, though the heavens may be vast and the net wide, they will ultimately not escape punishment. I carefully examined the case files; Chen Li, the Marquis of Zhongling County and the Governor of Hezhou, was promoted and favored by the emperor. His title was a royal favor, and his position was granted privately; he possesses neither merit nor virtue, yet he enjoys a life of wealth and privilege. The people of Qiao and Fei counties have long suffered, and now with the emperor's grace, these areas have been recovered. The people hold the emperor's benevolence in high regard. The newly reclaimed lands require compassionate and generous governance; you have been appointed as the local official, and the responsibilities are significant! The emperor has shown you special favor, summoned you to the Xuanwu Palace, personally instructed you, and placed great hopes in you. Although you originally lacked integrity, the emperor has earnestly taught you; you should take this as a warning and strive to be a good official. However, you have unilaterally imposed taxes, greedily extorted rice and grains, ignored Wang Chen's efforts for disaster relief, and taxed fish excessively, creating a stark contrast with the tale of hanging dried fish alongside sheep. By imposing strict penalties according to the law, the authority of the court will be upheld. We, the council members, believe that in accordance with the imperial decree, Chen Li should be relieved of his official position, prohibited from participating in the imperial examinations in the future, and demoted to his original rank." The emperor approved his petition. Wu Xing Prefect Prince Wuliang and Yuzhang Intendant Prince Fangtai, both arrogant and domineering, were also investigated and accused by Yuan Rao, resulting in their dismissal from office.
Yuan Rao was a fair man, particularly skilled in law enforcement, and well-versed in various historical references. He had a unique approach to local governance. If any official committed a crime, or if a policy was unfavorable to the common people, or if education was lacking, he would correct any issues promptly and accomplish many beneficial deeds. Later, he was promoted to the title of General Zhenwei and the position of Interior Minister of Nankang, and even contributed over 3,000 shi of his salary to assist the common people with their taxes. He often visited the elderly, helped the poor, and the local people were extremely grateful to him. Because of his outstanding achievements, he was called back to the court, appointed as a Palace Attendant, and also served as the Grand Supervisor of five provinces including Jingzhou, Yongzhou, Xiangzhou, Bazu, and Wuzhou. Not long after, he also concurrently served as the Deputy Chief of the Left of the Ministry of Personnel based on his original position, and later became the Deputy Chief of the Imperial Censorate. He successively served as the Chief of the Left of the Ministry of Personnel, Right Guard General, and Leading General, and finally became the Minister of Personnel. He passed away in the thirteenth year of Taijian, at the age of sixty-four. The court posthumously appointed him as a Palace Attendant and a Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and oversaw his funeral arrangements.
Sima Shen, styled Jihe, was from Wen County in Henan. His grandfather, Sima Huiyuan, was the Water Commissioner of the Liang Dynasty, and his father, Sima Xuantong, served as a Lang in the Left Department of the Liang Dynasty. Sima Shen was graceful from a young age, and at the age of fourteen, he was already skilled at chess. Once, when he accompanied his father to visit the Minister of Personnel Dao Gai, the Governor of Liangzhou Yin Zichun and the military commander Zhu Yi were also there. Yin Zichun had known Sima Shen for a long time and invited him to play chess during the banquet. Every move Sima Shen made was impressive, and Zhu Yi was so impressed that he invited Sima Shen to play together. Later, when the Prince of Shaoling of the Liang Dynasty served as the Intendant of Danyang, he appointed Sima Shen as his chief assistant. When the Taiqing Rebellion occurred, his parents passed away, so he vowed to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for the rest of his life.
After Emperor Yuan of Liang took office, he appointed Sima Shen as the General of Opening the Far, and later promoted him to be a military advisor in charge of the external troops in the Western Garrison. When Hou Jing launched an attack on Yingzhou, Sima Shen followed the commander Wang Sengbian to defend Baling. Every strategy he suggested was accepted and implemented. Wang Sengbian remarked, "This kid is great at charging into battle; it might not be his strong suit. If he were in charge of calming the people and defending the city, he would undoubtedly accomplish remarkable feats." During Wang Sengbian's campaign against Lu Na, Sima Shen was also part of the army. When the enemy launched a surprise attack, everyone else panicked, but Sima Shen stood out to protect Wang Sengbian, using his shield to shield him. At that moment, reinforcements under Pei Zhiheng arrived, causing the enemy to retreat. Wang Sengbian looked at Sima Shen and said with a smile, "A benevolent person must have courage; this saying is indeed true!" Later, Sima Shen was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant in the Imperial Court. In the early years of the Shaotai era, he was promoted to be an officer in the Yitong Hou's office.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he was appointed as a Consultant Officer to Prince Andong of Linchuan. In the third year of Tianjia, he was promoted to be a Consultant Officer for the Northern Expedition, while also serving as the Minister of Justice. Five years later, he was further promoted to be a Consultant Officer for the Eastern Garrison, also serving as a Lang in the Ministry of Rites. Later, he was sent to serve as the General of Rongzhao, the Prefect of Jiangcheng County, where he gained significant political success and received high praise. He returned to the court and served as a Lang in the Ministry of Personnel, later being promoted to be a Lang of the Left, but was dismissed due to a mistake in official duties.
In the early years of Taijian, he was appointed as the General of Zhenwei, a Consultant Officer for the Prince of Nanping, Ziyang. Nine years later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Moling County, where he became renowned for his honesty and capability, even witnessing the extraordinary event of a white sparrow building a nest in the county office. Shortly after the end of his term, he was called to the Eastern Palace to serve as a guest official, and soon took on the role of Attendant in the Eastern Palace. He was later promoted to Imperial Cavalier Attendant, while also serving as a Chamberlain.
After Shu Ling's rebellion failed, he occupied the Eastern Residence and immediately sent someone to summon General Xiao Moha of the Right Imperial Guard to come and support. They quickly pursued and killed the rebel army, then entered the city to reclaim the rebel army's treasury. The emperor highly praised him for this. Because of his achievements in this campaign, he was appointed as the Left Guard Commander of the Crown Prince, titled as the Earl of Wenzhao, with a fief of four hundred households, and also served as a Gentleman of the Imperial Stables. He was soon promoted to the position of General of the Right Guard and was also appointed as the Supervisor of the Imperial Stables. Later, due to illness, he returned home and was appointed as the Supervisor of the Imperial Stables, retaining his positions as General of the Right Guard and Gentleman of the Imperial Stables.
In the fourth year of Zhide, he passed away. The emperor was deeply saddened and issued a decree stating, "Following the rites of ancestor worship and remembering the merits of the ancestors, a funeral shall be held for him according to the old customs, with a posthumous title conferred. The Gentleman of the Imperial Stables, General of the Right Guard, and the founding Earl of Wenzhao, Shen, loyal, upright, of noble character, able to maintain simplicity in complicated matters, and willing to sacrifice himself for the country. I entrusted him with significant responsibilities and had great expectations for him, expecting him to make contributions to the country. Unexpectedly, he passed away suddenly, resulting in immense sorrow for me. He shall be posthumously appointed as the Palace Attendant, General of the Guard, promoted to Marquis, with an increased fief of five hundred households, and posthumously titled 'Loyal'. He shall be provided with a complete set of court attire and additional garments, a day for mourning, and all funeral expenses shall be borne by the state." The emperor personally wrote an epitaph for him, imbued with deep sorrow. The epitaph ended with, "Alas! Heaven did not bless the righteous, taking away this loyal subject of mine!" It is evident how highly the emperor regarded him.
He served three emperors, handled confidential affairs, and made decisive decisions in times of crisis, never hesitating. His son, Shen Xiu, continued his legacy and rose to the rank of Crown Prince's Attendant.
Mao Xi, also known as Bowu, was a native of Yangwu, Xingyang, Henan. His grandfather was a Cavalry Attendant of the Liang Dynasty. His father was the Minister of Rites and also served as the Marshal of the Central Authority of the Liang Dynasty. Mao Xi loved learning from a young age and was proficient in cursive and clerical writing. He initially served as a military advisor to the Marquis of Xichang of the Liang Dynasty and was soon promoted to the role of Army Secretary. The founding emperor had heard of Mao Xi for some time, and when he was stationed at Jingkou, he ordered Mao Xi to accompany Emperor Gaozong to Jiangling, specifically instructing him to consult Mao Xi upon their arrival in the Western Zhou. Mao Xi and Emperor Gaozong paid their respects to Emperor Yuan of Liang, who quickly appointed Emperor Gaozong as the leader of the imperial guards and Mao Xi as Minister of Works. After the fall of Jiangling, Mao Xi and Emperor Gaozong moved together to the Guanzhong region. Later, when Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, Mao Xi returned from the Zhou Dynasty and proposed a strategy for reconciling the two states. The court sent Zhou Hongzheng and others to establish diplomatic relations with the Zhou Dynasty. After Emperor Gaozong returned to his country, Mao Xi welcomed him in Yingzhou. Subsequently, Mao Xi was sent to the Zhou Dynasty to negotiate for the return of his family. Yuwen Hu, the Prime Minister of the Zhou Dynasty, held Mao Xi's hand and said, "You are the one who can foster friendly relations between our two countries!" Then, Yuwen Hu sent Empress Liu and the former emperor back home. In the third year of Tianjia, they reached the capital, where Emperor Gaozong was then the General of the Flying Cavalry. Mao Xi was appointed as Emperor Gaozong's military advisor and also served as head of the Central Secretariat. Mao Xi drafted all the documents for the palace and the court.
Emperor Shizu once said to Emperor Gaozong, "My sons all have names with the character '伯' in their generation names, so your sons should have names with the character '叔' in their generation names." Emperor Gaozong went to ask Mao Xi, who then listed more than twenty virtuous individuals from ancient times with names like Du Shuying (杜叔英) and Yu Shuqing, and reported this to Emperor Shizu, who was quite pleased. After Emperor Shizu passed away, the young Emperor Fei was ignorant, and Gaozong was appointed as the Grand Secretary to assist in state affairs. Officials like Pu She and Zhong Ju believed that the court ministers wanted Gaozong to take power, so they fabricated an order purportedly from the Empress Dowager to have Gaozong return to the Eastern Palace. Everyone was confused and frightened at that time, and no one dared to speak. Mao Xi immediately rushed in and addressed Gaozong, "The Chen Dynasty was established not long ago, the country is still unstable and facing serious challenges. People all over the country are worried. The Empress Dowager considered carefully, and for the nation's long-term strategy, allowed you to return to the palace to govern together, following the examples of Yi Yin and Zhou Gong. What was said today is certainly not the Empress Dowager's true intention. The safety of the realm is at stake, and I hope you will carefully consider it. In my humble opinion, you should petition again and not let the traitors succeed." As Mao Xi had anticipated, the outcome was just as he expected.
General Han Zigao, the Right Guard General, and Chen Shubao are still plotting a rebellion in secret. Chen Shubao's favored attendant, Shen Faxing, cheerfully said to him, "We should select elite soldiers, equip them for Han Zigao, and reward him with iron and coal to craft weapons and armor." Chen Shubao was taken aback. "Han Zigao is plotting a rebellion!" he exclaimed. Shen Faxing replied, "The mountain tomb sacrifices have just ended, and there are still many enemies on the border. Han Zigao was highly regarded by the previous dynasty. Although he seems loyal to the court, he is actually impulsive. I'm worried he might rebel someday. If that happens, it could go against your wishes. We should sincerely appease him, gain his trust, and utilize the strength of this fierce general." Chen Shubao saw the logic in it and decided to go along with Shen Faxing's plan.
After Chen Shubao ascended the throne, he appointed Shen Faxing as Attendant of the Yellow Gate and concurrently as Gentleman-in-Waiting of the Palace Library, overseeing military and state secrets. Chen Shubao intended to launch a northern expedition, so he ordered Shen Faxing to formulate military regulations, comprising thirteen articles, and ordered their promulgation throughout the kingdom. The details are not necessary to mention. Shortly after, Shen Faxing was promoted to Right Guard Commander of the Crown Prince and Right Guard General. In recognition of his strategic contributions, he was granted the title of Marquis of Dongchang County, with a fief of five hundred households. He also took on responsibilities for state affairs in the Three Princes' Mansions of Jiangxia, Wuling, and Guiyang. In the third year of Taijian, Shen Faxing's mother passed away, and he resigned from his official duties to observe mourning. The court posthumously honored Shen Faxing's mother, Lady Yu, with the title of Lady of Dongchangguo, granting five hundred bolts of cloth, thirty thousand coins, and tasking him with her funeral arrangements. Du Mian, an Imperial Clerk of the Household Cavalry, was assigned to create a tomb diagram for her, and Chen Shubao personally studied the burial ground layout with Du Mian, demonstrating how much he valued Shen Faxing. After completing the mourning period, Shen Faxing was reappointed as General of Mingwei, while retaining his positions as Right Guard General and Gentleman-in-Waiting of the Palace Library. He was later appointed as General of Xuanyuan and Prefect of Yixing. Shortly thereafter, he returned to court as Deputy Imperial Censor, resuming his original position.
After the mourning period, Shen Faxing was promoted to the position of Cavalier Attendant and Minister of War, involved in the selection of officials. When the army conducted a northern campaign and captured the Huainan region, Shen Faxing offered his strategy for consolidating the border defenses to Chen Shubao, who took his advice and acted on it that very day. Chen Shubao then asked Shen Faxing, "I want to advance into Pengcheng and Bianzhou; what do you think?" Shen Faxing replied, "I'm just an ordinary guy; who am I to predict the future? I think Huainan has just been pacified, the people have not yet settled down, and the Zhou dynasty has recently absorbed the Qi state, with great strength that is difficult to match. How can we use weary troops to venture deep into enemy territory? Moreover, giving up the advantages of water transport to travel by land, trading long-term gains for short-term benefits, isn't exactly the Wu army's strong suit. I think we should first calm the people down, defend the territory, recuperate, and extensively recruit outstanding talents, waiting for the right opportunity to act; this is the long-term plan." Chen Shubao did not follow his advice. Later, Wu general Wu Mingche was defeated by the Zhou army on the battlefield, and Chen Shubao said to Shen Faxing, "What you said back then has now been proven true."
It is said that Mao Xi served alongside the emperor, and after twelve years, he was promoted to Palace Attendant. A year later, he was promoted again, becoming Cavalier Attendant and Intendant of Danyang. He was later appointed as Minister of Personnel while retaining the position of Cavalier Attendant. After the death of Emperor Gaozong, a man named Shuling rebelled, and the emperor ordered Lu Qiong to convey the decree, instructing the armies from the north and south to obey Xi's command. After the rebellion was quelled, Mao Xi was promoted to Palace Attendant again and was given nine hundred households of land. In the first year of Zhide, he was appointed as General Who Inspires Awe and Interior Minister of Yongjia, with a rank equivalent to two thousand stone.
At first, Emperor Gaozong entrusted all government affairs to Mao Xi. Mao Xi worked diligently and offered numerous valuable suggestions, and was even bold enough to offer frank advice. The Emperor accepted his opinions. As a result, for over a decade, the Jiangdong region enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, which can be described as a golden age. However, Emperor Gaozong did not heed Mao Xi's advice regarding military action in Huainan. Consequently, Wu Mingche faced defeat. Emperor Gaozong deeply regretted this and said to Yuan Xian, "It was my fault for not listening to Mao Xi's strategy, which led to this result." Mao Xi's relationship with the Emperor grew closer, and he spoke more openly, not shying away from any topics. However, the Crown Prince had a penchant for drinking and frequently partied all night with others. Mao Xi cautioned the Crown Prince, and Emperor Gaozong also admonished him for this. The Crown Prince was quite displeased, leading him to gradually distance himself from Mao Xi.
Once upon a time, the emperor was injured and was overjoyed to have recovered. He held a feast in the imperial palace, inviting Jiang Zong and others to sing, dance, recite poetry, and drink. After getting drunk, he even summoned Mao Xi. Mao Xi felt uneasy witnessing this, since the emperor had only recently been buried, less than a year ago. He wanted to counsel the emperor, but the emperor was too far gone. Mao Xi walked to the steps, pretended to have a heart attack, and fell to the ground, asking to be taken away. When the emperor sobered up, he grew suspicious and remarked to Jiang Zong, "I regret having summoned Mao Xi here. I know he wasn't really sick; he just wanted to stop my banquet. This is not what I wish to see. He is too cunning!" So the emperor discussed with Sima Shen, "This man is hot-tempered. I want to demote him to Poyang and allow him to take revenge. What do you think?" Sima Shen said, "In that case, he will never be able to serve the court again. Proceed as you see fit!" Fu Zai, however, disagreed, saying, "No! If we allow him to take revenge, wouldn't that show disrespect to the late emperor?" The emperor said, "Then let's appoint him as an official in a distant county, and don't let him participate in court affairs anymore." In the end, Mao Xi was appointed as the Governor of Yongjia.
When he arrived in the county, Xi refused to take a salary, governed fairly and with integrity, and was supported by both the common people and officials. When the rebellion led by Zhang Dabao, the governor of Fengzhou, broke out, the county where Xi was stationed was next to Fengzhou, and they were completely unprepared for defense. Xi quickly repaired the city walls and moats and organized the weapons and equipment. He also sent his subordinate Zhou Pan, the magistrate of Songyang County, with a thousand soldiers to support Jian'an. After the rebellion was quelled, he was appointed as the Prefect of Nan'an. In the first year of the Zhenming period, the court summoned him to serve as the Grand Master of Ceremonies and concurrently as the General of the Left Valiant Cavalry. Xi did many good deeds in the county, so the court called him back to the capital, and the crowd that accompanied him on his journey stretched for hundreds of miles. That year, he died of illness on the road at the age of seventy-two. He left behind ten volumes of works. His son, Chuchong, inherited his title and achieved the rank of Yitong Cavalry Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Library. Cai Zheng, also known as Xixiang, was the son of Cai Jingli, the Central Attendant and General of the Central Pacification Army. He was clever and had an extraordinary memory from a young age. At the age of six, he visited Chu Xiang, the Minister of Personnel of the Liang Dynasty, who was impressed by his intelligence. When he was seven, his mother passed away, and he mourned her as seriously as an adult would. His stepmother, Mrs. Liu, was strong-willed and jealous, treating him unjustly, yet Cai Zheng served her with even greater caution and no complaints. Originally named Cai Lan, Cai Jingli believed he possessed the filial piety of Wang Xiang and changed his name to Zheng, styled Xixiang.
During the early years of the Liang Dynasty Chengsheng period, when Gaozu was the Governor of Nan Xu province, he summoned Cai Zheng to serve as the chief registrar. Shortly after, he was appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. In the early years of the Tianjia period, he was promoted to the position of a military officer in the Prince Shixing Mansion, and later served as a military officer in the Ministry of War, the Chief Attendant in the Ministry of Personnel, known for his efficient work. In the early years of the Taijian period, he was promoted to the position of Prince Taifu, the registrar of Prince Xin'an, the attendant cavalier in the Central Secretariat, the historian for Prince Jin'an, the Prince's Chamberlain, and also served as the Director of the Eastern Palace, while retaining his position as the Chamberlain. After his father passed away, he resigned from his official position to observe the mourning period. After the mourning period ended, he inherited the title of Marquis of Xinfeng County and was appointed as the General of Rongzhao and the military advisor to the Prince of Xin'an, serving on the right. In the year 618 AD, Cai Zheng was promoted to the position of Minister of Justice (廷尉卿), and shortly after became a Minister of Personnel. Later, he was promoted to the position of Taizi Zhongshu, the Chamberlain of the Central Secretariat, responsible for drafting edicts and decrees. He was then appointed as the Minister of Personnel, and together with Jiang Zong, the Supervisor of the Imperial Household, they were responsible for revising the Five Rites. He was later granted the title of General of Ningyuan. The Emperor highly valued his talents and abilities, entrusting him with increasingly important tasks. He was promoted to the Minister of Personnel and the General of the Right, visiting the Eastern Palace every ten days to discuss the rise and fall of history and current affairs with the Prince. The Emperor also ordered that his opinion be sought for all major and minor cases in the Ministry of Justice (廷尉寺) before a decision could be made. Soon after, the Emperor ordered him to recruit soldiers and build his own army. Cai Zheng was skilled in appeasing soldiers and understanding the people, and within less than a month, he recruited nearly ten thousand soldiers. Cai Zheng's official rank and reputation continued to rise, and his influence expanded, causing concern among many. Later, he was transferred to the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, while retaining his military position. The role of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was quite uneventful, with not much to do. Rumors suggested that Cai Zheng had grievances, and when this reached the Emperor, he was furious, confiscated his troops and horses, and planned to execute him. Only through strong persuasion did he manage to escape death.
In the year 619 AD, the Sui army crossed the Yangtze River. Due to Cai Zheng's talent, the emperor temporarily appointed him as the commander. Cai Zheng dedicated himself tirelessly. The emperor held him in high regard and promised to reward him well. During the decisive battle at Zhongshan Nangang, the emperor ordered Cai Zheng to guard the northwest camp of the palace city. Later, he was also tasked with supervising the various army units in battle. After the city fell, Cai Zheng followed the rules and turned himself in.
Cai Zheng was handsome, articulate, and well-educated. From scholars and officials to royal relatives, as well as the systems, regulations, customs, and geography of the time, he could answer any question. However, he had a tendency to be opportunistic and overly ambitious, lacking a practical approach. When he first became the Minister of Personnel, he requested to borrow a military band, which violated court regulations. The emperor agreed temporarily due to his father's achievements but later revoked the privilege. Cai Zheng lacked integrity and was not above reproach.
Emperor Wen of Sui heard of his intelligence and summoned him to discuss political matters. He always provided insightful answers. However, he did not get promoted for many years and was later appointed as the Deputy Minister of Rites. He served in various roles before passing away at the age of sixty-seven. His son, Cai Yi, was well-versed in the "Book of Documents" and held positions in the educational sector. He later joined the Sui dynasty and became a scholar in the Eastern Palace.
Historical records state: Liu Zongyuan was diligent day and night, never slackening, and did many beneficial things for the country. Sima Shenqing was upright and honest in the court, diligent and loyal, truly admirable! Mao Xi deeply understood the ways of governing and effectively assisted the emperor of the time. Cai Zheng was intelligent and talented, but unfortunately, he became arrogant and eventually faced the consequences, which is truly a shame!
